Reliance ICC Test Batsmen Rankings: Kumar Sangakkara returns to top spot

Kumar Sangakkara replaces AB de Villiers at the top

Sri Lankan star Kumar Sangakarra has returned to the top of the Reliance ICC Test Players Rankings following the completion of the second Test in Wellington, which host New Zealand won by 193 runs.

Despite 2-0 series defeat, Sangakarra’s knocks of 203 and 5 have seen him replace South Africa’s AB de Villiers at the top of the Reliance ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen, where he is one point clear on 909 points.

Kane Williamson of New Zealand has jumped seven places to a career-best ranking of seventh in the batting rankings following his scores of 69 and 242 not out. In achieving his highest Test score to date, Williamson also passed the 3,000 runs mark, reaching 3,034 runs in 39 Tests.

Steven Smith at No. 4, Virat Kohli at No. 12

Following Saturday’s drawn Test in Sydney that ensured a 2-0 series victory over India, Australia captain Steven Smith has leap-frogged Angelo Mathews into a career-high fourth place in the batting table after scores of 117 and 71.

For India, Virat Kohli moved up three places to 12th after scores of 147 and 46, while Australia opener Chris Rogers has moved up six places into 18th position after scores of 95 and 56.

Meanwhile, following South Africa’s eight-wicket victory over West Indies in Cape Town, Marlon Samuels has vaulted seven places to 31st in the batting rankings after knocks of 43 and 74. Dean Elgar has also moved up two places to a career-high 48th, while other upwards movers following this Test, which helped the Proteas secure a 2-0 series win, include Denesh Ramdin (up three places to 59th) and Leon Johnson, who is the highest climber, moving up 25 places to a career-high 70th after scores of 54 and 44.

Rank	Player	Country	Points
1	Kumar Sangakkara	Sri Lanka	909
2	AB de Villiers	South Africa	908
3	Hashim Amla	South Africa	891
4	Steven Smith	Australia	873
5	Angelo Mathews	Sri Lanka	841
6	Kane Williamson	New Zealand	839
7	Shivnarine Chanderpaul	West Indies	834
8	Younis Khan	Pakistan	818
9	David Warner	Australia	805
10	Joe Root	England	789